Cigar and cigarette lighter



Nov. 18, 1930. L. D. BELL ET AL 1,782,025

GIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed July 3l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 62 1: I 53 /NvE/vroR 49 1 A wRE/vcs D. BEL/ 37 JOHN C. RaMaAcH Nov. 18, 1930. L. D. BELL ET AL 1,782,025.

CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed July 3l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. 2l l j 12 1:5 30

l t Il lll /NVENTORS T- 2/ LAWRENCE D. BEL/ 11.* i JOHN C. Rona/:CH

| i i I i i 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1930 posite direction.

vUNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE D. BELL, OF LOS ANGELES, AND JOHN 0./ ROMBACH, OF GLENDALE, CALI- FORNIA; SAID ROMIBACH ASSIGNDR TO SAID BELL CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Application led July 31,

Our invention pertains to a cigar and cigarelge lighter of the type having an ignitible wic Y An object of our invention is in a cigar and cigarette lighter to provide a hood or cover to enclose certain of the operating mechanism such as the wick, 'the iint and the flint wheel, so that by rotating a portion of the hood or cover on what may be termed a vertical axis through the lighter'the wick may be exposed so that the flame may be utilized to ignite the cigar or cigarette; and this mechanism may be enclosed by the partial rotatin of part of the cover in the op- A further object of our invention is the construction of a simple manner of mounting the rotatable cover on what may be termed a fixed or stationary hood or cover so that a segment of the to of the lighter may be exposed to ignite t e wick and utilize the fiame after the ignition of the wick. This rotary hood has a vertical pivotal connection to the ixed hood, both hoods having a segment cut out so that in the closed position the rotatable hood forms a cover or a closure for the cut out segment of the fixed hood, and in the open position these cut out segments align to expose the interior of the top of the lighter.

A further object of our invention is the construction of a snufer which has a slidable motion in regard to the wick'and to the wick containing tube; and in further detail our object in this regard is to slide the snuier outside of the Wick from a position below the top of the wick when the wick is to be ignited, to a position above the wick to snuff the ame. This sliding or reciprocating movement of the snuter 1s on the outside of the wick carrying tube so that the snutfer when the li hter is being used for lighting purposes is elow the top of the wick; and when the flame is snutfed the snufer extends above the toppof the wick. v

A further object of our invention is the cooperative relation of the snuer tube and the enclosable section of the hood or cover so that in the closed position of the cover the upper end of the snuier tube forms a rela- 1928. Serial No. 296,538.

tively tight closure with the opening and l closing section of the hood or cover, and thereby excludes air from entering the snuffer and allowing the wick to burn. A further object of our invention as relates to the cooperative feature of the snui'er tube and the rotatable closure is an interconnection by which the snuifer tube is loweredwhen the rotatable portion of the hood is rotated from the closed to the open position; and when this movement is reversed the movement of the snutfer tube is also reversed, that is, from a lower position to an upper position to extinguishlthe flame or to prevent evaporation of the ignitible' liquid in the wick and container.

It has been foundin cigar lighters that if there is not a satisfactory seal for the wick when' the device is inoperative that the ignitible liquid readily evaporates from the liquid container'through the wick and thus requires frequent replenishing; therefore, an object of our invention is the construction of a snutfer which has a rectilineal movement longitudinally of the wick tube and the wick enclosed therein, to expose the wick for igniting and burning, and forms a satisfactory air-tight closure over the wick when the device is in the inoperative position.

In constructing our invention we preferably use a tubular-shaped lighter with an elongated body shaped somewhat similar to a pencil, the major portion forming the liquid container. Adjacent the upper part of the container there is a partition thru which extends the wick tube, and slidably mounted on the wick tube there is a snui'er sleeve or tube. This is guided to have a rectilineal motion without a rotary motion preferably by a pin and slot intertting between the wick tube and the snu'er sleeve.

A knurled wheel is mounted on a shaft which is journaled in alower partition or plate above the fuel chamber, and this operating wheel extends through an openingoutside the periphery of the device to be operated by the thumb or finger. A shaft extends upwardly from this operating wheel and has a Hint wheel mounted thereon to engage a Hint spring pressed thereagainst. The fixed part of the hood or cover is secured to the containupper partition formin 'a knurled surface on its periphery extending er andto the bottom partition and also to an a journal for the fiint'wheel shaft. This 1s preferably partly cylindrical in cross section and has `an open segment on the side of the lighter having the der this covering or hood.

The closure hood or cover is also cylindrical and fitsover the fixed cover, having a pivotal connection thereto by a vertical pivot axially centered. The movable cover has a cut out segment substantially the same size as that of the fixed cover so that when in the closed position the movable cover forms a cover for the open segments of the fixed cover land when rotated to the open position these cut out segments coincide, thus exposing the wick.

The movable cover is preferably rotated by completely thereabout; and there is a cam and pin connection between the snuffer sleeve and the interior of the movable hood so that in the rotational movement of this hood the cam moves the snufer sleeve in a lon itudinal movement relative to the wick. T e upper end of the snuffer sleeve contacts with the top portion of the movable hood when the device is closed and slides downwardly to expose the upper part of the wick when the movable hood is shifted to the open position.-

Our invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 3 in the directionv of the arrows, with the top open and with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows, with certain details partly broken away, but -showing the top closed,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of Fig. 2 on the line 4--4 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a plan of the device of Fig. 1 taken in the directlon of the arrow 5,

Fig. 6 is a plan taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 7 of Fig. 1, with the top o en I)Figs 8 and 9 are plan and elevation of the wick tube,

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are plan, elevation and transverse section respectively of the snuffer tube, the section being on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11,

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and elevation of the rotatable outside cover,

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are plan, side elevation and detail front elevation respectively, of the cam fitted in the rotatable cover,

wick, a flint wheel and flint being housed un` Figs. 18 and 19. are plan and elevation of the fixed inside cover, v

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are lan, side and front elevatlon respectively of) the tubular body structure, having a partition mounting the various portions of the device,

Fig. 23 is a plan of the upper partition.

Referring first to thev construction of Figs. 20, 21 and 22, thisshows the sleeved body structure designated by the numeral 11, havmg a partition 12 and a downwardly extending cylindrical tube 13 and an upwardly extending tube 14. The upwardly extending `tube has a cut out section 15 to accommodate the operating wheel as hereunder detailed; and also has a vertical cut out section 16 to accommodate the flange of the wick tube as hereunder set forth. The partition has openings 17 for the wick tube and 18 for the shaft for driving the fiint wheel andthe bushings therefor. The openin 19 is somewhat rectangular and accommo ates a box-like structure to house the flint spring. vThe openings 20 are for various bolts or studs connecting the partition 12 with an upper partition 21.` (Note Figs. 1 and 2.) The inflammable li uid container 22 fits over the tube 13, having a liquid and gas tight fit. The container 22 is preferably tubular and of a suliicient length to accommodate the wick and the liquid.

The fixed inside cover designated by the numeral 23 is illustrated indetail in Figs. 18 and 19. Y This comprises a cylindrical structure 24 having a vertical slot 25 on thefront side. There is a partial cover or top 26 illustrated as domed to a slight extent, there being a cut out section 27 1n this top or cover. A. central perforation 28 is used for mounting a pivot pin as hereunder set forth. The lower edge of the cylindrical portion 24 is fitted over the upper tubular portion 14 of the body structure 11; and there is a cut out section 28 extending upwardly from the lower edge of the portion 24 to accommodate the operating wheel detailed hereunder, which `extends outside the periphery of the cover.

In Fig. 5 I show the upper partition designated generally by the numeral 21. This has an opening 29 with a marginal slot 30 to accommodate the snuffer sleeve, an opening 31 for the flint wheel shaft, a slot 32 for the flint pressing wire, and perforations 33 to accommodate securing bolts.

The movable outside cover designated generally by the numeral 34 has al cylindrical lower portion 35 with a cut out section -36 thereabove. The lower portion is preferably knurled as indicated at 37. The top 38 is -may be considered the-rear side.

outer cover 34 a-nd has a lower cylindrical portion 41 with a cut out section 42. The portion 41 registers with the portion 35 of l, the ouside cover, thus bringing the cut out sections 36 and 42 in alignment. This sleeve has a cam groove 43 extending on an inclination partially around the circumference of the sleeve and having a vertical slot 44.

The wick tube 45 illustrated in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, is cylindrical and has a collar 46 near its lower end, and a stud 47 on what The upper edge of the tube is preferably beveled as indicated at 48.

A snuffer tube 49, illustrated particularly in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, which slides on the wick tube, has an internal longitudinal groove 50 extending partly therethrough from the lower end and adapted to accommodate the stud 47. The lower end of this tube is adapted to rest on the collar 46. The upper end is beveled as indicated at 50 to conform to the doming of the rotatable outside cover. The -bevel 48 of the wick tube and 50 of the snufer tube are in alignment when the snufler is in its housed or lower position. A cam engaging pin 51 is onthe outside of the snufi'er tube and is adapted to operate in the cam grooves 43 and 44 of the cam sleeve 40.

Referring to the assembly of Figs. 1 through 7 the sleeved body structure 11 is, as above mentioned, secured to the liquid container 22 in any suitable manner; and has a thrust bearing bushing 52 fitted in the opening 18 of the lower partition 12. The

int wheel shaft 53 has its lower end journaled in this bushing and carries an operating wheel 54. This wheel preferably has a knurle'd periphery and extends outwardly through the cut out section 28 of the inside cover 23. The inside cover fits over the upwardly extending tube`14 of the body structure 11. A pin 55 is used to secure the wheel 54 tothe shaft 53 and this shaft extends upwardly through a bushing 56 which has a bearing in the opening 31 of the upper partition 21. The flint wheel 57 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 53, being secured thereto in any suitable manner. Positioned adjacent the flint wheel there is a flint housing 58 which has' a top 59 and two side walls 60 with flanges 61. One of the iianges is secured by a bolt 62 extending from the top to the bottom partition and by a screw 63 fastening into the upper partition. The fiint is indicated at 64 pressed against the flint wheel by the spring 65 which has the upper end operating ina slot 66 of the Hint housing. This spring extends downwardly through the slot 32 in the upper partition 21 and is bent into the form of a coil 67 and accommodated in a box-like structure 68 which extends downwardly from the opening 19 in the lower partition 12, this box-like structure forming a liquid tight seal with the partition 12. The flint may be renewed by pulling the outer and inner covers ofi' the body structure, shifting the s ring out of the slot 66 and to one side, and t en lnserting a new flint. 70

The upper and lower partitions are secured by additional bolts 69 extending through the, holes 33 in the upper partition 21 and into the threaded holes 20 in the partition 12. The wick tube 45 has itslower end-extending 75 through the opening 17 in the lower part-ition 12, the collar 46 resting on this partition. This collar is insertable through the opening 29 in the upper partition 21 and in such assembly is accommodated by the slot 30. The wick tube is secured to the partition 12 by a liquid tight joint; and the wick 70 extends upwardly through this tube. The snuffer tube 49 is slidably mounted on the wick tube and prevented from rotation by the stud 47 of the wick tube engaging in the longitudinal slot 50 of the snuffel' tube. The pin 51 extends through the vertical slot 25 of the fixed inside cover for purposes of assembly, and in assembly is passed through the slot 44 of the cam sleeve on the outside cover.

This outside cover is fitted over the inside cover and secured thereto by a vertical pivot pin 71 which is riveted through the erforations 39 and 28 of the outside and fixed inside covers respectively. The outside cover is thus rotatable on the inside cover, being readily turned by the knurled surface.

The manner of operation of our lighter as thus described is substantially as follows: When the lighter is closed the tube has the appearance as illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the cut out section 36 of the outside cover exposes *the solid portion of the inside cover, thus making a complete enclosure for the upper part of the lighter; and when in this position the solid part of the outside cover is positioned above t-he wick. The snuffer tube is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper part .of the snufier tube fitting against the inside surface of the rotatable outside cover top.

In rotating the outside cover the cam slot 43 by engaging the pin 51 on the snuffel` tube forces this tube downwardly as above mentioned, it being prevented from rotation by the stud 47 engaging in the vertical slot 50; and thus the snuffer tube is depressed to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, preferably with the upper end of the snuer and wick tubes in alignment. This action also fully rotates the outside cover until it occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The operating wheel 54 may then be actuated by the thumb which is in a convenient position, and by rotating the flint wheel causes a spark from the flint directed against the exposed wick, thereby igniting the wick. It will be seen that the wick is in a position to receive plenty of air so that the combustion of the ignitible fluid may be complete and thus give a large flame. When it is desiredto put out the llame the outside rotatable cover may be turned in the opposite direction, this action causing the upward movement of the snuffel' tube until it occupies the position ciples of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

We claim:

1. In a lighter a container having a wick tube with a wick extending therethrough, a snuffer tube slidably mounted on the wick tube, means to prevent rotationof the snuer tube on the wick tube, and a cam actuated means to elevate and depress the snulfer tube, the snuft'er tube in its upper position extending above the upper end of the wick.

2. In a lighter a wick, a flint wheel mounted on a longitudinal shaft, a Hint holder adjacent thereto, a cover having a lstationary part and a movable part mounted on thestationary part on an axis parallel to that of the Hint wheel, the stationary cover enclosing part of the end of the lighter having the Hint wheel, the movable cover forming a closure for the wick and the portion left open by the stationary cover.

3. In a lighter a container having a top with a wick tube having a wick extending therethrough, a Hint wheel and a Hint holder mounted above the top, the said top being circular, a fixed cover having a cylindrical section with a hood extending across part of the top and adapted to expose the wick, an outside rotatable cover pivotally connected to the fixed cover by a pivot pin having a vertical axis in the hood, the movable cover being adapted to form a closure for the wick or on rotation to Ht 'over the fixed cover and expose the wick. l

4. In a lighter as claimed in claim 3, a snuffer tube slidably mounted on the wick tube and an interconnection between the snufer tube and the outer cover to raise and lower the snuifer' tube on the rotational movement' of the outer cover.

5. A lighter comprising in combination a container having a wick, a snulfer tube slidably mounted thereon, means to ignite the wick, a rotatable cover rotating on an axis substantially parallel to the wick tube, and an interconnecting means between the cover and the snuHer tube to depress the snuft'er tube vwhen the cover is rotated to expose the wick and to elevate the snuHer tube when the cover is rotated to enclose the wick.

6. A -lighter comprising'in combination a container having a top w1th a wick tube e'xtending therethrough with a wick therein, a snuifer tube slidably mounted on the wick tube, a cover having an inner xed portion exposing the wick and a rotatable portion connected thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of the 'wick tube, the rotatable portion being adapted to expose the wick in one position and to form a closure therefor, and means interconnecting the snuifer tube and the rotatable portion to shift the snuifer tube, the rotatable portion forming a closure for the upper end of the snufer tube whenin its uppermost position.

7. 4A lighter comprising in combination a container having a top, a wick tube extending therethrough having a wick therein,-a snufl'er tube slidably mounted thereon, a Hint wheel mounted above the top, a Hint holder adjacent thereto, a cover having a fixed inner section with a portionpartly cylindrical having an opening at one side to expose the wick and an outer rotatable cover connected thereto on an axis parallel to the wick tube, the outer cover having a partly cylindrical section adapted to fit over the Hxed cover or to form a closure for the wick, and a cam interconnecting the rotatable outer cover and the snufl'entube to slide said tube longitudinally on the rotation ofthe rotatable cover.

l 8. A lighter comprising in combination a container having a top, a wick tube with a .wick extending therethrough, a snufer tube slidably mounted thereon, a lighting means for the wick, a fixed cover having a partly cylindrical portion open at one side exposing the wick and having a hood extending over the top of the igniting means, a rotatable cover connected to the hood by a pivot pin, said rotatable cover having a second hood with a partly cylindrical section extending downwardly therefrom, the cylindrical section being adapted to Ht over the cylindrical section of the fixed cover or to form a closure for the exposed side of said fixed cover and thereby enclose the wick, a cam connected to the rotatable cover and engaging the s'nuiler tube to raise and lower same, the hood of the rotatable cover forming a closure for the upper end of the snulfer tube when in its elevated position.

tion to enclose or expose the wick at the side and top.

10. A lighter comprising in combination a structure having a container with a top, an operating wheel mounted on an axis at right angles to the top and extending outwardly through an opening in the said structure slightly beyond the periphery thereof, a Hint wheel above the top actuated by the operating wheel, a Hint holder, a wick tube extending through the top, a snutfer tube slidably mounted thereon, a cover having a Hxed portion and a rotatable portion pivotally connected together on an axis substantially parallel to that of the operating wheel whereby on rotation of the movable sectionthe wiclf, may be exposed at the side and top or enclosed, and means interconnected with the movable section to slide the snutfer tube longitudinally of the wick tube.

11. A lighter comprising in combination a container having a lower partition and an upper partition, an operating wheel mounted between the said partitions and extending outwardly slightly .beyond the periphery of the container through an opening, a shaft connected thereto and extending through the upper partition, a Hint wheel mounted thereon, a Hint holder adjacent thereto, a wick tube extending through said partitions, a snuier tube slidably mounted on the wick tube, a cover having a Hxed and a rotatable section, the rotatable section being rotatable on an axis substantially parallel to that cf the said shaft whereby the wickmay be exposed `or enclosed, and an intrengaging structure between the rotatable section and the snutfer tube to slide said tube longitudinally of the wick. tube.

12. In a lighter a sleeved structure having a fuel reservoir mounted thereon, a wick tube with a wick, the sleeved structure, the fuel reservoir, and the wick tube being fixed relative to each other, both ends surrounding the wick tube, means to slide the snutfer tube on the wick tube, said snuer tube in its lower osition exposing the top of the wick and 1n its upper position extending above the wick.

13. 0In a lighter as claimed in claim 12, and means disconnected from the snuHer tube forming a closure for the upper end of the snufer tube when tion.

14. In a lighter a structure forming a hand grip part and fuel reservoir mounted thereon, a wick tube with a wick connected to the fuel reservoir, the hand grip structure, the fuel reservoir, and the wick tube being Hxed relative to each other, a snuifer tube open at both ends surroundin "the wick tube, and means to slide the snu er tube u wardly on thewick tube and upwardly reilative to the hand grip structure while the hand grip structure is held stationary, said a snuier tube open at in its uppermostposisnuffer tube in its lower position exposing the tube and the wick and in its upper position extending above the wick.

l5. In a lighter as claimed in claim 14, a closure means operatively connected to the hand gri st-ructure and interconnected with the snu er tube to raise and lower the snuiler tube on the movement of the closure means, the said closure means forming a stopper for the top of the snuH'er tube when in its uppermost position. v

16. In a lighter a container forming a fuel reservoir, a wick tube with a wick, a cover, means connecting the container and cover, the container, wick tube, and the said connect-ing means being Hxed relative to each other, a snuler tube open at both ends surrounding the wick tube, means to slide the snuH'er tube on the wick tube, the said snuHer tube in its lower position exposing the wick and in its upper position extending above the wick, and means to move the cover from the open to the closed position, the cover when `in the closed position forming a closure for the upper end of the snuler tube when such tube is in its uppermost position.

17 In a lighter as claimed in claim 16, an interconnecting means between the cover and the snul'er tube to raise the tube on closing of the cover and lower the snufer tube on opening of the cover.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this speciiication.

LAWRENCE D. BELL. JOHN C. ROMBACI-I. 

